Family

The VIBE

Pastor Glen Family

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My favorite scene in the movie, “Dumb and Dumber” starring Jim Carrey as Lloyd , is when he and Harry arrive at the fund raiser in the bar of a luxury hotel, and Lloyd says that he is going to, Hang out at the bare and put out the vibe.”  It is a hilarious scene for a number of reasons.  Those of us who nerd out on the psychology of the scene take the fun out of it, because  we focus on the irony of self awareness  above the irony of  humor.  Nutshelling, Lloyd thinks he is attracting women but he is actually repulsing everyone. In a room full of intelligent, well dressed, and wealthy people, Lloyd is the opposite of everyone else (except for Harry) in the room.  His attempt to put out the vibe of attracting a young beautiful socialite  is an absurd delusion and it is his own lack of self awareness that not only undermines this attempt,  but makes him impervious to the fact  his efforts are completely futile.  Now isn’t that hilarious?  

The question posed is, “Do vibes matter.”  And the answer is a resounding YES, vibes matter.  Let us break down what particular vibes we are talking about.  First of all is body language.  Most people have a subconscious filter that will define a person’s attitude, their honesty, true feelings, self esteem etc by body language.   We receive vibes from the position of a person’s arms, legs, movement and especially facial expression.  These are all vibes.  Like I said most people have a subconscious  filter to interpret these vibes in order to give more context to the situation.  There are also those who make it a conscious effort to study body language for the purposes of a much more in depth knowledge all the way down to what we call microexpressions. The mouth may be saying one thing and the body language telling a different story altogether.  The weight of truth falls to the body language vibe.    

    Secondly, voice pitch, volume, inflection and timber.  For fun you can say the words, “I Love You,” 3 or 4 different ways and that is the overwhelming evidence that vibes are for real and they are important and also powerful.  For your own little experiment, in a conversation of three or more, watch the body language and listen for the timber  of the voice of the dominant and watch and listen as others around you mimic both body movement and voice inflections to match that of the domininent in the room.  For even more fun, make a conscious effort to do the exact opposite of the dominant movement and speech, you will actually feel awkward.  

So this poses another question, the one we really want answered; that question, “Is there such a thing as a spiritual vibe.  I claim certainty by default.  As a believer traipsing this planet while simultaneously walking in the spiritual kingdom of God, to me the walk is by spiritual vibe.  He, the Holy Spirit is the vibe showing us left, right, up, down, right, wrong, etc.  The actual term in Greek for spirit finds its root in pneuma, which in English is wind.  You may have heard the study of the Holy Spirit is Pneumatology.  Literally translated that would mean, the study of wind.  Wind you can not see, but you can feel.  Wind can be powerful or it can be comforting and consoling. Indginous to my personal walk with God, I refer to the “Vibe” as my Spiritual Spidey Sense.  My construct is not only experience, but truth from the Word.  John  14:17 says, “the Spirit (WIND) of truth.  The world cannot accept him.  The person who follows the pattern of the world, can not receive the wind from God.  They do not feel it, from God or another believer.  My spiritual spidey sense (what you guys call vib)  lets me know most of the time if me and another person are sharing the same experience of not only the presence of the wind but also the direction of it.    There is a harmony about it.  A spiritual connection by sensing and following the same supernatural weather system..   Those with gifts of leadership and teaching are also spiritual meteorologists.  They can sense the direction and reception of truth.  Jesus introduced this functional aspect to our faith when he told the guys in John 14:26 the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father is sending in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.   The advocate cnd be an intercessor, interpreter, public speaker, paraclete, or called to one’s aid.  That is the VIbe, that is the spiritual spidey sense.  Without any doubt the “counseling wind” is our assimilation to God’s kingdom.  This stair steps to the question we really want answered about the “Vibe.”  That question, do believers get spiritual vibes from God that are about others or a situation.  The answer to that is theologically sound, Yeppers.  The Bible prescribes not only physical and mental actions in obedience, but also things we are to do in the Spirit. 1 John 4:1 Do not believe every spirit but test them.  John 3 that which is born of spirit is spirit. 

Ephesians 4:3-6  Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. All of 1 Cor. 12…ex.v12  Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

The Vibe from God and others is a for real thing.  

There is so much more to this subject as you follow the breadcrumbs back through the teachings of the early church. For now I hope this encourages you to dig deeper to understand our place in the kingdom. There are dangers of heart and spirit having a little scuffle over people and situations, go with the spirit because the vibe your heart will give you is a deceitful little gremlin.  

Surrender

Pastor Glen Family

pastor Glen Moore

Fill in the blank:

1.  When with my main circle of friends I am the ________________.  (Examples: shot caller, comedian, laid back one, quiet one, center of attention, most difficult, spender, most reserved, most vocal, one invited last, one invited first, peace maker etc.)

2.  In my family I am the __________. (problem person, peace maker, follower, leader, bossy one, ignored one, star or bright spot, black sheep, irresponsible one, responsible one, dependable one, authority, sensitive one, angry one etc.)

3.  Overall I think of myself as _____________. (loyal, haunted, fearful, dangerous, friendly, smart, funny, sarcastic, responsible, generous, angry, hungry, suspicious, dependable, a go getter, a follower, misunderstood, the fixer, a nobody, a somebody, a somebody but currently unrecognized, burdened, sad, a diamond in the rough etc.)

My Identity

If you took time to choose an adjective to describe yourself in each blank, then maybe you see that your role or identity is different depending on the situation.  Did you have any that were opposites?  I wonder do you like what you put in the blanks or did you sense a “spurt” of discomfort or dread with each answer you gave.  You play a role in each situation and that roll often becomes our identity. Your identity then can become a perpetual expectation.  And that expectation can be internal, external or both.  Do you sometimes feel like you “multi-identity disorder?” (I made that word up, not a part of the DSM) 

What would you say if I told you that the Bible has some truth about your roles and expectations?  What would you say if I told you, YOU CAN BE FREE FROM THE IDENTITY CRISIS?

Go with me on this little journey.  Don’t judge, but this is about Judas.  You are not Judas in that  you would betray God for money, then again maybe you would and that would suck for you.  Moving on, don’t just “identify” Judas as the great betrayer, but rather seek to understand why he did what he did.  It is clear that Judas betrayed Jesus, and it is important to believe the Bible when it portrays that as SIN.  It was sin, sinful, hurtful, disobedient, wrong, bad, ugly and a lot more.  In no way am I justifying Judas’ betrayal nor am I tolerating his actions, but I do want to try to understand.  For even Judas himself has an identity all through the scriptures.

From the get go, Mark chapter 3 or the first mention of Judas in book of John tags he guy as the “one who would betray Jesus.”  If this were a movie the first time you see Judas he would be the one all in black with an evil look on his face, a smurky grin and an all around sinister look. The BAD guy!  Talk about your identity crisis, Judas had one.  I believe Judas knew what he was doing was evil.  I believe that Judas knew he was betraying Jesus because Judas wanted money.  He wanted money because of how it made him feel, the security if gave him, and he valued it more than he valued loyalty.  But I want to understand, why? We all know the “What” he did?  It’s the why that perplexes us, and yet it’s in the why that we can find the truth about Surrendering Our Identity to Christ and being FREE for our own identity crisis. 

To reiterate, this is not about you betraying Jesus or not betraying him, it’s a close look at roll, expectations, and finding your identity in Christ by surrendering to him. 

Quick Time Line from Scripture: (A little Context)

Mark Chapter 3 NIV

13” Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”(always the tag line)

John 12:5-6 ESV

Judas asked, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

(same story in Matthew 26… the Bible says)

And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

You know the rest of the story. 

Judas’ first label was given to him at birth.  Judas means “TO PRAISE!” A name derived from the tribe of Judah.  Jesus is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” since we are talking about identity’s.  In Judas’ circle of friends he was the responsible trustworthy guy who handled the books.  He had a specific roll to play and an expectation.  Like YOU and ME he also knew how he was expected to act,   what he was expected to do, and what he was expected to say.  He also knew that there were expectations of motive.  Notice what the Bible says about “the one who is to praise.”

Identity

1. His circle of friends Identity: “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

Does this response resonate with you? Judas knew what was expected for him to say.   Not that you are evil or ill willed, but rather…DO YOU SAY AND DO THINGS BECAUSE IT IS YOUR IDENTITY?  Are your words and actions governed by a label or by the roll you play?  Think about it.  It does not have to be that way.  You can be free from your multi-faceted freaky freeway of canned response and action due to your TAG.  Would you consider surrendering your tag line to Jesus?  Would you entertain the thought of surrendering your roll in your circle of friends to Jesus?  Can you sense the freedom of surrendering your identity to Jesus and only be one person in him instead of trying to measure up in rolls to others.  Those rolls will ALWAYS lead to defeat, because you can’t fulfill them.

2.   Self-Identify of Judas:  He was the one most deserving.  “he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”  Judas would NOT say “I am a thief.”  Judas would say, “I deserve more, because I do more.” Judas would say, “I am entitled to extra because I am extra.”  Judas would see himself as a little smarter, a little better, and more deserving.  The one named “to praise” identifies himself as a great person because he 1. Testifies that Jesus is Lord 2. Reclassifies himself above others 3. Justifies his selfish motives and actions.  4. Disqualifies his own sin. 5. Diversifies his opportunities and portfolio. 5  Gratifies himself in two ways, pleasing others and pleasing himself. 

With that said, you may be saying oh no!..He, Judas (to praise), exemplifies me!  That’s me.  I am that kind of person.  A person who is a different person given the situation.  I say what I am expected to say, because if I don’t I won’t be heard.   I do what I am expected to do because if I don’t I will disappoint.  I justify my sinful actions and attitudes because I surmise I will never live up to my own or others expectations.  “MY IDENTITY IS IN WHO I FEEL I HAVE TO BE RATHER THAN WHO I WANT BE?”  Surrender!  Surrender!   

Judas came to a cross roads.  Are you there?  It’s often over looked in the scriptures.  Maybe it’s always been over looked or maybe I am just crazy.  (I won’t be cringe by saying cra-cra )  Take a look at Matthew.  Jesus is sending out the 12 as a test run for after his departure.   Chapter 10: 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra clothes.”  JUDAS JUST LOST HIS IDENITY.  Judas lost his job. He no longer had his main responsibility.   His roll not only changed but was dissolved.  Gone, no need for a treasurer.  No need for someone to keep up with the money because there is not and won’t be any.  His Identity is stripped away and all he has left is the real Judas.  The vulnerable Judas.  The broken, selfish, pitiful man that leaned into his identity way too much and now he is revealed.  And then Jesus calls him out…”the one.” 

Surrender your life to Jesus.  Lay down the identities.  Let Jesus change you from the inside out to become complete and whole in him instead of the multifaceted multi-faced personality on demand.  Why?  Because that’s not real.  So yeah, if you lay it down you may have to face some of your demons, and yes others may not get it.  So what?  You may just want out!  Out of the ways of the world.  To be true to God and to yourself.  To mature and grow as a believer.  To have the relationship with God that actually works.  Freedom comes through surrender in the context of the believer.  You will be whole therefore you will feel whole.  You will be content and you will feel content.  You will be one person and feel satisfied.  Yes this can be you.  Surrendered to the one who gave his life for you. 

One

Pastor Glen Family

You all know someone who just doesn’t seem quite right. Some say may “they have a screw loose,” “elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top,” or “not the sharpest tool in the shed.” It’s funny how we communicate such things to try to say this person seems to be missing something that the majority has. These labels do not necessarily mean lack of intelligence. Many times we can’t quite put our finger on it, but we know something is lacking.Now to turn that around a bit; do you every think of yourself in this way? Do you ever think that you seem to have a lot but something is still missing, something is not quite right? Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others in the worship service your hands are up and their hands are up and you think “Am I doing this right?” Do you open an eye during prayer and see some other person doing the same and you half nod one another in a silent agreement that neither of you have arrived at the point the majority seems to be.

You are not alone. That doesn’t solve your mystery but it is a fact. What is it that you lack that causes you to worry instead of worship, to be preoccupied during preaching or instagramming at the invitation? What is the one thing you lack?

Jesus ran across a young hipster just like that. He had disposable income, he had high position in the family business, and was young man of scruples and morality. But he, like many of us, knew there had to be more. From the outside he seemed to be lacking in nothing, but he felt he was missing something. So he found Jesus who seemed to be one of those that had a lot of followers with a screw loose or disciples who were not the sharpest tool in the shed. He asked Jesus, ” What do I need to do to have a life that lasts forever?” His confidence and position aloud him the boast of being a person who is good and moral. He was likable dude who treated people right and was respected and admired by friends and family.

Jesus said you only lack ONE thing. Wow! Only one? The last thing on the list to have it all! How much does it cost? How much time will it take? Just one thing Jesus? Do tell?

Give up everything and you will have the ONE thing you lack. Well that’s not gonna work. What? That’s crazy! Addition by subtraction? Sell off the the things I own then give that money to the poor? Nope. Have a nice day.

What’s the point? Do you see it? Do you see the irony? Do you see the hypocrisy? Rich Young Ruler means he had money he did not make and position he did not earn. Yet this young man felt it was his right to keep all these things as his instead of giving it away to someone who “did not make it or earn it.” In this story I would love to say that I identify with Jesus or that I take the perspective of the disciples, yet I must confess I am the entitled selfish spoiled brat.What’s mine is mine Jesus! My money, my family, my time, my emotions, my thoughts, my friends, my career-I earned it !

I wonder if God has ever said, “Did ya now?” Not in so many words, but I do have to be reminded by my Father that nothing I have is mine and every breath I have is borrowed. I am a manager not an owner. He is the owner! He is the creator! And daily I have to surrender what I believe to be my rights to his will. I have no rights God reminds me. That the day I accepted his broken and spilled out Son as my savior that I relinquished my rights that I never had in the first place.

It’s not yours! You didn’t earn it! Your rights can not be violated if you don’t have any in the first place. Eternal life came with the highest price that you nor I had to pay. Jesus loves us and wants everything for us. But we have to surrender everything to him, the irony is that nothing we think we have is ours in the first place.

Do you identify with this guy? What will your response be? Will you walk away and lack or surrender everything to Jesus and have it all? One thing you lack.

Anchor of Hope

Image Pastor Glen Church, Family

The hope that I have is a left alone tether. Below the surface I am a witness to the dropping of the anchor. Beneath the waters I view the disturbance of the giant stones plunge, I hear the indigenous sound of underwater mayhem as the ancient anchor makes its way to the bottom, and the oceans must give room for this space and weight. Striking the bottom a billow of water dust giving up its place for the salvation of what is up above. Clearly now the remnants of the ocean bottom have settled into their new location while the anchor presupposes what was their bed. The tether to the anchor stretches to straight and the anchor settles in…the long rope moves but stays straight because the anchor holds and unaltered by my witness.
The hull of the boat above me, the anchor below me and I take account of the relationship between the two. The boat moves the anchor does not. The boat sways and turns and the anchor is steady. The boat is being tossed by waves and wind that I cannot see from here, the evidence is clear that something is going on up there. The anchor, it seems, doesn’t change with the wind in waves. The anchor I notice is the same regardless of the surface. The anchor is steadfast in the calm and the storm.
Only beneath the surface can I see the anchor clearly. Beholding to the murk and rock. It doesn’t strain, it doesn’t move, it seems to be indifferent to conditions above either calm or calamity. So beneath the water I trust the anchor. I hear the sounds of same. Same is the water at these depths regardless of the waves above. Now that I have seen and heard the anchor in action and it can only be describes as…..STILL. Still still.
The sailor in that boat, is he scared of the storm? Is he crying out for help? Is he flashing through his journeys history denoting what brought him to this place and denouncing his own will to live? Oh If he could see what I see, Stillness…If he could hear what I hear….Still. My voice cannot carry from the depths regardless of my screams of “The Anchor is Steady!! The Anchor is secure!” “You are not holding to the Anchor…The Anchor is holding you!” He can’t hear me, he can’t see me. My witness is mine, his witness is his. I appreciate him weathering the storm and I do not discount the fear and trembling cracks of thunder and bright whites of flashing streaks. But the anchor will save him, the anchor will secure him. The anchor is his unrealized hope.
waterYOU HAVE HOPE! Your storm is no match for Jesus. This hope is not a maybe or could be hope. It is a sure thing because Jesus does not change. The storm will probably continue then eventually fade. You may change, but the anchor will not. The tether will not snap in two though you be broken. Cry to God in the storm, behold his strength. Confess your lack of faith in the rain, and be warmed. Close your eyes to the blinding lighting strikes around you and see hope in the dark. The storm does what a storm does but you are not alone. That ominous sound of crashing white capped waves may knock you to your knees but the tether is tight and the anchor does not have to flex nor recoil to handle the strain. You are Ok Be still. Be comforted.
Hebrews 6:19 WE HAVE this HOPE as an ANCHOR for our Soul-Firm and Secure.
~Pastor Glen
Way Church.

There is HOPE for Those Who Self HARM

Pastor Glen Family

Many years ago I was leading a mission trip at a location where many people were seeking healing from God for a number of reasons. Addictions, abuse, those with criminal intent, and generally young people who were at the end of their rope and needed help. We were not suppose to ask questions such as “what are you in for” or “what problem brought you here?” That would be stupid. But, we were told that if one of the residence opens up to you on their own thats ok.
mark5cutter
Sitting at one of the picnic dinner tables for 8 one of the residence began to talk to me. She was at one of the end seats which signified that she had leveled up in the program there. It was very noticeable that both her arms and legs had thin lines of symmetrical scarring. She was a cutter for sure, and I was trying to be so cool by not drawing attention to the permanent lines of not so distant pain. But her eyes took my focus down and to the rightm, straightening her arm at her side, “You wondering where my scars are from?” She confidently asked. She knew. She absolutely knew. One thing about the ostracized and outcast, they often have an acute sense of the genuineness of others and little patience for artificial generalities. Like many others there, this new life experience was out of desperation and a last resort for help. I am not exactly sure where this young lady was in her process, but it was evident she had healed to a place to be able speak openly about her pain that could only be displaced in short moments of sadistic controlled euphoria. She spoke to me about her abuse and abuser, I articulated my way around the conversation not to get into the specifics, because I knew that was not my place nor my place to give counsel, but rather to empathize and validate her past and present pain and struggles.

This week that experience came rushing back into my brain, because on two separate occasions I have crossed paths with two young ladies, both of whom were at two different points of sell, “Thanks come again,” situations. Only one day apart I caught a glimpse of the same thin scar tissue self inflicted lines of quiet desperation. My response, “Thank you,” turning and walking away with my bag or box of self indulgence. It wasn’t the time or place but I so wanted to hear the story. To understand why a young lady with so many years ahead, would on purpose pull a pair of scissors or kitchen knife across their own forearm and find comfort. What pain was/is so bad that on purpose injury gives sense of relief. I never discount what what pain, guilt, and depression will do to people.

stonecutmArk55

Of course being a lead pastor I immediately did two things. I looked up statistics and scripture. Its what I do. I don’t know…its just what I do. Statistically 10% of young ladies 16 year old girls and younger cut, and 6% of boys do the same. I have no idea of the validity or the margin of error of these numbers.

My thumbs then typed g-a-d-e-r-e-n-e-d-e-m-o-n-i-a-c in my safari search engine. Mark 5 on bible gateway.com gives me the detailed story for my research. There was an outcast vagabond who literally lived on the fringe of society amongst tombs housing the dead in a field of pigs. Thats right, he did not fit in anywhere. This guy would not be shackled by anyone, yet he would cut him self with rocks. He would break chains that were intended to support the “Tarasoff Law” of not being a harm to himself of others. As far as the story goes, this guy broke through his shackles with the intention of only hurting himself. People called him demon possessed and the Bible agrees. That does not mean that all cutters are demon possessed. But self destruction and induced pain are of the satanic phylum. Any time that we substitute the truth for a lie, that is evil and self destructive.

God values every person. This truth is supported in Mark chapter 5. Jesus travels through a storm to a non welcoming land, into a pig pastor where the stench of death is prominent because there are also tombs where skeletal remains reside. All this for one person who no one seemed to care about.

If you cut…self harm in anyway, first of all you are not crazy. And there are a lot more like you. You are probably depressed at times and have a lot of anxiety. Wether your situation is self induced or external circumstances, I can be confident that Jesus values you. His desire is to have a relationship with you. How does that work? Just like any good friend. You talk to him and others who know him. He can bring the healing. He may not remove the scars for he himself still bears his. But he he can take the pain. Ask him for help.

truth and evil

Pastor Glen Church, Church Leadership, Family, sermon

i would like to encourage you, if you walk in obedience, you will face evil.  evil is not like most think as the faceless dark hooded and mysterious.  the fruit of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  one might think that evil then would be the opposite, but it is not.  Its an imitation of the above.  its a non organic substitute that masks itself.  Its a facade.  Those of a discerning spirit who walk with the lord see it.  the carnal mind simply does not, but over time intelligence alone will eventually reveal truth.  evil hates the truth, becausethe truth exposes evil.  evil does not want you to know the truth, because if you know the truth then you see evil for the ugly that it is.  therefore, evil must be flexible and ever changing because the truth stands alone and can not change.  evil will skirt, evil will lie,   evil is cunning and sneaky, but when exposed will become hostile with malice.  After that all of the sudden a calm.  behind the calm is a strecorderorm…the calm is the facade of the fruit, and the storm is that which rages closely behind the mask.

the trials that the book of james speaks of are just that.  evil is nothing more than man being man.  the godless being normal.  selfish arrogant money power- being liked -where every smile is self serving, every handshake a simple act of self indulgence and every act of giving has the expectation of a receiving.

agape love is impossible, therefore evil can not forgive. it can not forgive because evil is so bloated that the smallest offense is also the greatest offense for evil declares self all above all, therefore any offense can only be an accolade or trophy displayed as a reward for not forgiving.  for evil, forgiveness = humility and humility to evil is weakness.  so to hang on to even the most minor of an offense, is a show of strenth like the free climber using three fingers to pull himself to safety.

evil will have joy in the trial but only because they are the trial to someone else.  its a loathsome self defeating act, yet the need for power and the win supersede even the notion of common sense and basic dignity.  joy comes in a grimmise of pinning the aponent down for the count.  its the epitome of narcisim for less of anyone else means more of self.  its the flesh in a vaccum.

the peace evil portrays is that of the sin of man, its not a peace like that of the holy spirit that illuminates the truth of God’s sovereignty, but rather the peace the flesh has in complete apathy.  indifference to pain and suffering caused to others or the potential there of.  evil thinks about the now, and is spiritually obtuse.  evil makes the mind secondary to the heart.  for evil can not accept its own fate.  for evil sees nothing wrong with itself, other than the truth seems to cause some serious hurdles.

kindness is out of the story that can be told later, or the expectation of a return. its a word that  expects a word, its giving for the purpose of owing, its masked even to self as an investment, of self preservation, simply its the pride of life.  the life that that believes its deserving of good and what is fair.  when really its the self concern like a child crying over not getting candy.

 patience is hard for evil pretend, because evil gets in a hurry.  if evil does not expedite the truth will win.  and losing for evil is personal and represents lack of power.  therefore evil will always advance past patience. for evil only trusts self and due to evils preoccupation with “me” is so bold that evil can’t realize that evil can not even trust itself.

like the psychopath or sociopath, goodness and kindness  observed and mimiced traits that evil will demonstrate as a defense and a place to hide.  evil will use these external behaviors like a soldier uses camouflage in hopes that the truth will pass by and evil be noticed.   evil is a coward to the truth.  thats why it rants, hates, is angry, is lieing, and desires for others the same.  the serpant was the most cunning of all creatures convincing man to have he deserved.  the heart is the most  deceptive thing, and evil relies on the heart.  goodness and kindness make a temporary shadow for evil, until the truth shines like the sun.

evil wants what it wants.  evil can not be faithful to God, a spouse, a friend, even a foe.  evil justifies the opposite of each relatioship in a selve serving pattern that is never black and white but a constant gray, smoke screen, and an inflated ego that justifies all acts of infidelity on self and more often than not displace the same shortcoming towords the truth.  lack of faithfulness is that which most turn a head or keep opinions to self.  the reason being the descent man, not necesarily even godly man, relaizes the potential damage unfaithfulness exposed to the truth has a sequential devestating effect.  evil will wish, insinuate, lie, and accuse its enemy of the most repulsed of sins, because evil is guily even more but feels no guilt nor remorse.  evil is so unfaithful that it does not even for a second consider the irreputable damage to the innoncent, for they know not innocence.  evil will blame what it knows it is guilty of.  yet with out feelings of guilt.  evil is unfaithful on purpose, because being unfaithful is the pinnacle of power.  evil can not even be faithful to a foe, for if the foe can be of benefit to evil for a time, evil will carefully slide the mask of companionship for the time it takes to receive and have a need met.

like the hunter that has killed thousands , the mortician who has painted a thousand faces, evil can sing a sweet lullaby  like a munchausen syndrome by proxy mother  rocks her poisened baby to eternal sleep.  gentleness is evil’s calm in the comfort in the place its most comfortable, the power over a life.  its a satisfaction over the conquered which needed no conquering.  where the innocent perish evil will thrive.  that which would cause the Godly to fall prostrate before a holy God is the same that gives evil a quiet calm, because evil is the winner.

evil wants to isolate.  evil must be in the dark.  evil can only have self control in its victims isolation.  for only in isolation can evil form what seems to be special friendship when in reality its yet another human shield when the bullets of truth fire across the battlefield   as the light of truth exposes evil, evil will cast blame beyond itself to those it has pre-isolated in order to cast the blame to another or others.  evil is a coward.  evil will demand itself as the only voice.  evil demands allegience to no other.  evil has the expecation of complete loyalty to the grave, and if not ….evil will turn on that person like a fastball coming in contact with the  precision swing of a professional batter.

have you stared evil in the face?  have you sat across the table?  if you have and have flet intimidated or scared….ask yourself….are you on the side of truth?  not if truth is on your side, for truth takes no side nor is it a side.  evil will attack the truth from every angle…and refer to different sides, when in reality evil is the only side, the truth does not have a side, it simply exists and can not be moved.  evil is loud, the truth is quiet, evil will find strength in numbers, the truth only needs its self, evil will change the story from this  to that, truth needs no extra words, evil will pound its fists, quiver its chin, redden its  face and hurl sharpened daggers of insult and lies……………and the truth….well …….the truth…..just laughs and laughs and laughs…..what else is there at that point?  EVIL? WHATEVER.

 

The Depraved Mind

Pastor Glen Family , ,

I graduated from Garden Webb University, Boiling Springs NC.  While eating one day, with a new student, his chair was bumped from behind.  Jokingly he said, “Watch out are you blind?”  The guy who bumped is chair said, “Well yes I am.”  The two shared apologies, for the student apparently was unaware of the deaf and blind population at our school.  The new student felt very apologetic for his rash comment, but the two worked it out and became friends.

Do you find yourself watching the news on tv or your computer and saying things like, “How can people be so stupid?”  Or, “Don’t they see how wrong that is.”   Well I have also.  There are two particular “News Worthy” issues that are in the mainstream now that do make me angry.  One being the undercover planned parenthood videos and the other that has to to with the Ashley Madison Hack.  Both of these issues I find disturbing yet for different reasons.  I will write about the Ashely Madison deal in my next blog.

Planned Parenthood:  The TRUTH about planned parenthood is that they are federally funded abortion clinics.  They call it Planned Parenthood and the left thinking politicians call it “Women’s Health.”  But in reality it is a place the public can go when they don’t want their baby and our federal government will pay to have that baby killed and removed.  This has been going on forever.  So there is no news there.  The shock has come with the revelation that these clinics are now selling everything from the whole baby to amputated body parts and internal organs.  They hide behind that it’s, “Not for profit.”  The videos are graphic and horrific.  They speak of a baby’s heart beating when it is removed.  As a Christian I find this sickening.

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The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not [d]agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he [e]has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that [f]godliness is a means of gain.

The depravity of the human mind deteriorates more with each passing generation.  Like my beginning analogy, at first I am angry then I have to realize these people are blind to the truth.  Abortion is murder.  Abortion stops life.  Abortion takes something that is living and kills him or her.

Lets take a look at this from a scientific point of view.  If I am a pragmatic non supernatural believing scientist i more than likely have to believe in the BIG BANG.  I would say LIFE started from a single cell that eventually, through natural selection, became what we know today as life.  Then that same scientist can say well life does not begin at conception.  That scientist might say, life only begins after a person is born and takes his or her first breath.   To the Christian it is VERY EASY to see that these two notions are in direct opposition to rational thinking.  It is crystal clear how contradictory these two ideas are.  If life began as one cell and we can call that life, then how can you say that a fetus is not living.  It is already become many cells and are growing.

If you are a believer, this makes complete sense to you.  I am completly convinced that the non believer can not make that intellectual connection.  The depraved mind is not only immune to spiritual things, it is also obtuse toward basic rational thinking.   I am not even talking about right and wrong here.  I am not not talking about philosophical or moral differences of opinion.  I am saying on a scientific level if you can say life started as a single cell how can you say an unborn baby is not a life?  Life means living.  It is that simple, but the world is blind to it.

1.How would you define the depraved mind?

2.  As a believer do you find yourself angry or sympathetic towards those who are blind to the truth?

3.  Going Deeper…What does all this have to do with personal responsibility?

Marriage is Like SkyDiving Part 4

Pastor Glen Family

Part 4

“On our landing, pull both handles down quickly and the as soon as our feet hit the ground, run as fast as you can.”  “Roger that,” I replied to the retired Navy Seal still strapped to my back.  Well it was hilarious…I pulled the handles, ran as fast as we could and we both lost every cool point we had earned over the past 5 minutes.  We fell and rolled for what seemed like a long time…but we were on the ground safely.

In marriage, things do not always go as planned.  When things go bad, you have to learn to roll with it together.  The temptation will always be to be to attack each other when problems arise, but you should attack the problem together.  And then be able to celebrate together when that mission is accomplished.  Marriage is not easy.  Marriage is work.  Marriage is taking risks.  Marriage is tough.  Marriage is fun.  Marriage is a rush.  Marriage is two lives becoming one and moving in the same direction.  There will be arguments and your spouse will learn your buttons and will push them at times.  In the end you both have to agree to make things work and not just thrive but survive.
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What do you think would have been the results if I had jumped out of that airplane one my own?  Well I would be dead.  The retired Navy Seal had made hundreds of jumps, in combat situations.  He knew how to read the altimeter, how to open the parachute, how to cut away and open the emergency chute.  He had been there and done that.  Oh yeah, he had the parachute on his back and I was strapped to him.  I would have plunged to my death on my own.  Like I said before, my personal space was violated and It was uncomfortable, but it was necessary.

Before you get married, get close to God.  It can not be any simpler.  You should be in a Bible study, you should be around Christian friends, and you should be serving in some ministry somewhere.  If you are not close to God your marriage will suffer.  If you go into marriage or are in a marriage without the Lord it is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute.  It will be exciting for a little while, but the landing will not go well.

As young couples date and go through engagement, often times they mistake their euphoric feelings for one another as some sort of spiritual confirmation from God.  To say that another way, they are so happy in love that they think the feelings they have are coming from God, but they are not.  To say it even another way, “They are getting high on their own supply.”  It won’t last.  A relationship with God is crucial to a happy and successful marriage.

  1. On a scale from 1 to 5, how important is your relationship with God?

2.  What is the evidence of your answer to number 1?

(in a bible study, committed to a church, serve in ministry, daily devotion, prayer, Christian friends…)

3.  What kind of relationship with God do you expect your spouse to have?

4.  Feelings aside, how much do you love your boyfriend/girlfriend?

Marriage is Like SkyDiving Part 3

Pastor Glen Family

Part 3

…Green GO! GO! GO!  What a rush.  Whoops, Hollars, and yelps as we all run full force out of a perfectly good airplane.   Adrenaline is pumping as the drone chute leaves my hand to give some control a little below terminal velocity.  It’s is like flying.  The ground is so far away, it does not seem you will reach it.  It is loud, stick your head out of a car doing 120mph…that is the sound, well besides my own high pitched frenzy.  There is nothing like 60 seconds of free fall.  “Pull the Chord!” There is a loud distinctive snapping sound of the chute opening, and then I am jerked up in the air instantly with such ferocity that every undergarment i am wearing is now in the wrong place.  And it is instantly …..silent… So quiet so peaceful, not only physically but emotionally, “I did it, and looks like I am going to live.”  There are 4 minutes of air time to the ground.  What a view, what a feeling, what an experience.

Getting married so exciting.  It’s fun. It is an experience like none other.  It can be such a rush of enthusiasm and adrenaline and the next second being so content hugging or kissing the one you love.  You will have a great sense of accomplishment.  You did it, you really did it and now here you are experiencing loving someone and being loved, the basis of human need.  What some describe as bliss you now experience with that person whom you have decided to spend the rest of your life with.

What I have described above are moments.  And hopefully they are frequent and typical.  But they are not always.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Once you get through a few rough spots, you will realize that you both can do this.  This is real and it is wonderful and it was worth the risk.

  1. On a scale from 1 to 5, how much do you desire to be with another person in marriage?
  2. What is the one thing you look forward to the most when you are married?
  3. What risks is someone taking when they marry you?

Marriage is Like SkyDiving Part 2

Pastor Glen Family

Part 2

Upon arrival at the airfield, we parked our motorcycles, signed some paperwork, and sat in metal folding chairs.   We heard the nostalgic click of a VHS tape being seated in the bottom of the player.  We then proceeded to watch 30 minutes of short video clips, on the wall in front of us, of an uncomfortable subject matter. We watched chutes that didn’t open, people crashing to the ground, people crashing into trees and all kinds of other unfortunate outcomes.  Then the same lady who took my signature stepped to the front of the class and said, “If you are having any reservations or are scared, the time to get out is now before we take off.”  Have you ever heard it said, “It’s all fun and games till somebody gets hurt?”  Well that is the case in skydiving and marriage.

A commitment to another person for life is SERIOUS.  Whether you want to believe it or not, your marriage will effect a lot of people.  It is a Covenant not a Contract.  It effects you, your spouse, your family, your spouse’s family, both sets of friends, your church and many others.  More than that, you and your spouse coming together in the eyes of God makes you one.  Mark 10:7-9, …7“FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”  I can not think of anything more serious than that, other than your decision to follow Christ.  If you are thinking about getting married, congratulations!  Remember to count the cost because this is serious business.

  1. If you are a man, are you ready to lead another person spiritually?

2.  If you are a woman, how do you interpret that the man is the leader of the home?

But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3).

3.  Are you willing to give every part of yourself to another person?